How can you use the reactivity series?

Answer 1

The Reactivity Series is a way of organising metals in a series from the most reactive to the least reactive. In introductory chemistry, the reactivity series is an empirical series of metals, in order of "reactivity" from highest to lowest. It is used to summarize information about the reactions of metals with acids and water, displacement reactions and the extraction of metals from their ores.

Going from bottom to top, the metals:

• increase in reactivity;
• lose electrons more readily to form positive ions;
• corrode or tarnish more readily;
• require more energy (and different methods) to be separated from their ores;
• become stronger reducing agents.

The most reactive

Potassium

Sodium

Lithium

Calcium

Magnesium

Aluminum

Carbon all below carbon up to hydrogen are extracted from their ores by heating with carbon.

Zinc

Iron

Lead

Hydrogen all below hydrogen can be extraced from their ores using hydrogen.

Copper

Silver - these metals are unreactive and exist naturally. They are obtained by physical processes . e.g panning.

Gold - same as silver.

The least reactive

Answer 2

In introductory chemistry, the reactivity series or activity series is an empirical series of metals, in order of "reactivity" from highest to lowest. It is used to summarize information about the reactions of metals with acids and water, single displacement reactions and the extraction of metals from their ores

Answer 3

Potassium

Sodium

Lithium

Calcium

Magnesium

Aluminium

Carbon

Zinc

Iron

Tin

Lead

Copper

Silver

Gold

Platinum

Answer 4

· This arrangement aids the understanding of the properties of metals, helps to explain differences between them. · enables predictions to be made about a metal's behaviour, based on a knowledge of its position or properties. · It also allows prediction of the relative stability of the compounds formed by an element: the more reactive the metal, the more stable its compounds are likely to be. · The position of a metal in the series determines the reactions of the metal with various reagents, the displacement of one metal from its compound by another metal, and the method of extraction of a metal from its ore.

Answer 5

The order of metals bead on reactivity (with acid)

For example, the far left (on the Periodic Table) metals are the most reactive. This is because they only have one valence electron so it is really reactive. They will react with water. Sodium is so reactive it needs too be stored in oil, otherwise it will react with oxygen in the atmosphere. Moving right the number of valence electrons increases and so stability increases.

Moving down the table reactivity increases. This is because the atoms get bigger and the valence electrons are less tightly bound (further away from nucleus, more shielding by core electrons).

Answer 6

The elements in the reactivity series will replace those below them in reactions. For example, if a gold alloy reacts with lithium, the product will be a lithium alloy and gold.